Reading the archives, it seems some people have had trouble getting
the lid on. I've seen all sorts of advice, ranging from using hot
water to create negative pressure as it cools, doming the bottom
when you put the lid on, leaning on the top as hard as you can to get
a tight seal, etc.

Well I'm not very big and I'm not very strong and this sort of
worries me. Then I came across this:

Now I know Harbor Freight isn't the best for tools in the world, but
it seems there are several people who have used this tumbler for
several years before it finally blew. I ought to be able to get at
least $19 worth of use out of it, I would think. And I AM VERY
short of cash. I know the lortone would be higher quality, but
before I pony up the extra $50 (plus shipping) I'd like to hear more
about both models.

Also, I'm guessing I might have the same problems with the lid on
the Harbor Freight - anybody have any experience with this?

Also, I'm guessing I might have the same problems with the lid
on the Harbor Freight - anybody have any experience with this?

Sorry, I haven't seen the Harbor Freight lid.

But the Lortone lid is truly annoying. Go ahead and get the Lortoneif, every time you use the tumbler for the next 20 years, you'll sayto yourself, with glee, "I saved $20.00 on this tumbler! That's soworth it!"

If you think you'll more likely say, "I can't believe I got thistumbler and only saved $20.00! #@%$*!!," then get anything but.

I have seen other people try to open the Lortone and get sudssplashed in their face (I know, I know, too much soap, wasn't me),and seen students struggle, confused.

It just plain takes too long to assemble the lid. Tumblers last along time, that's the problem. It'll never break and you'll bestuck with it.

I'd suggest you get the cheaper Harbor Freight, if the lid isdifferent, and consider it disposable. Then upgrade later.

Zen, I have a rubber barrel tumbler and don't have any trouble atall getting the lid on. I actually have more problems getting it off!(smile) I think the thing that might "blow" on you would be the motorof the unit rather than the barrel. What are you planning to tumble?We mostly use ours for tumbling silver, so the loads aren't heavy atall. I would think that if you keep the weight going into the barrelunder the manufacturer's specs, it should serve you well for quitesome time. I really love having a tumbler and would definitelyreplace it if/when it stops working.

Also, I'm guessing I might have the same problems with the
lid on the Harbor Freight - anybody have any experience with this?

That's the exact model I bought last year. No problems of any kindso far, but I don't use it every day for days on end. Typically, Iuse it for burnishing cast pieces, maybe 30 minutes a day, once ortwice a week.

I have been using tumblers now for 20+ years. Mostly to tumble theleft overs from cabbing and break offs from my saws. I have atleast one tumbler running 24/7 all year long. My wife thinks I'mcrazy but as long as it is in the garage and relatively quite, shewill abide it.

I have used Thumbler's, Lortones and a number of other brands. Personally, I like the Lortone barrels and lids. They are made soshould there be any gas build up, the rubber barrels expand. Forsmall gas build up, the rubber liner on the lid plate collects thegas and it expands inwards. There is no need to go through the hotwater thing or any other thing. Simply be sure the notch around thetop of the barrel is clean and the inner lid and liner are wellseated. When putting on the outer lid, I always stand over thebarrel and lean down evenly all around to be sure it is also wellseated. Then put on a 1.5 inch washer and the nut. I have NEVER hada blow out....leaking now and then (because I didn't set the lidproperly) but never a blow out.

To open the outer lid, simply use the large washer (or any roundobject such as a quarter) slip it under the bottom of the lid andtwist. The lid will come rigfht off.

I have not used the Harbor Freight version but know several whohave. It is not made for long term use...the motor just won't standup. A small load once or twice a year is ok, but considering thateach grit should be allowed a two to three week run plus anotherfor the polish means a 4 to 6 week cycle to do a good job on stones.

If you are going to use it for metal, it might do well. Metalshould only be left in the shot for an hour or two and it willhandle that. Don't over load the barrel with shot however, it isnot made for that heavy a load. Also, be sure to use onlyburnishing (or non sudzing soap) or it WILL blow out!

Hope this helps you. Cheers from Don at The Charles Belle Studio inSOFL where simple elegance IS fine jewelry! @coralnut2.

James, is that the double barrel model that you bought, or thesingle? I had thought about getting the double barrel model so Icould burnish in one and polish in the other, but then I thought,that's probably the same motor, might the double barrel modeloverload the motor?

I may some day get into the lapidary end of things (I've cut, butnot polished, in the past), but for that I'd get a Real Machine. Fornow I just want to be able to finish small silver pieces, mostlybangles/bracelets, earrings, a lot of woven/braided or knit/crochetwork. If possible, if the shot won't get stuck in there....

I also don't know much about the different mediums, am I right inthinking that you need to run the piece through with steel shot andthen finish with something else? If so, what else?

Thanks, you guys are SO much help! I really appreciate the advice.

I've been getting a lot of negative reviews of both the Lortone andthe HF model off list, but its going to have to be one of them, Ithink, unless there's a comparably priced model someone canrecommend? Not more than $70, that's the absolute limit of what Ihave to spend right now. I really think the HF model is my best betfor the short term, but I'm still taking comments....

I bought to be able to get at least $19 worth of use out of it, I
would think. And I AM VERY short of cash. I know the lortone
would be higher quality, but before I pony up the extra $50 (plus
shipping) I'd like to hear more about both models.

The Harbor Freight tumbler might work for a while. The ChicagoElectric brand isn't known for reliability long term, but theyusually run for a while.

Putting the lid on isn't the big deal you've heard. Yes, you have tofiddle a bit, but brute strength isn't the issue.

IMHO, what you need to consider is what are you going to use formedia in your tumbler? A rotary tumbler will need steel of some kind,and that stuff runs $12 to $15 per pound. Even the little tumblerwill take 5 pounds. This is for stainless steel. If you try to do itwith non stainless, you will be left with junk steel and ruin yourwork you are tumbling. Further, all this tumbler will do is makeyour stuff shiny. It will not smooth it. For that you need anotherprocess tumbler.

Try to look at the whole picture before you spend your limitedfunds. Use the Orchid archive searching for tumbling, mass finishing,vibratory tumbler, rotary tumbler. There is enough thereto educate you about what you need.

Midway USA 1-800-243-3220 has an incredible vibratory tumbler foraround $40. Making it even better is the lifetime warrantee. Ibought one 6 years ago and used it daily. It quit recently and Ireturned it as per warrantee. Not only did they send a new one atno charge, but they also paid me back for the shipping.

I bought one for the store where I am a bench jeweler and we use itdaily. It is such a breeze to solder a broken chain and then throwit into the tumbler with stainless steel shot. It comes out lookinglike new, and I haven't had to breath any polishing compounds. Youbuy the burnishing liquids at Rio or Stuller. I can not imagine nothaving this little workhorse in my shop. It pays for itself ahundred times over.

With regard to this tumbler-- Does anyone know whether the barrel
is smooth inside, or has multiple flat sides?

It is smooth inside. I bought the Lortone tumbler a few years backand the motor gave out on me in a few months time which was quitedisappointing. It was X-mas time, so I ran down to Harbor Freightin my pinch and got the $20 tumbler (it was even on sale!). Thattumbler has been serving me so well for the past two years that Ihaven't even bothered to repair my fancy Lortone yet!

Everyone had told me how fantastic it was and theirs was lastingdouble digit years...Go figure. BTW, the barrels are almost exactlyalike on both brands. I use them interchangably and they are both apain to open.

is that the double barrel model that you bought, or the
single? I had thought about getting the double barrel model so I
could burnish in one and polish in the other, but then I thought,
that's probably the same motor, might the double barrel model
overload the motor?

Mine is the single barrel model. I came across it on my first visitto a new Harbor Freight store that opened not far from me. Iactually picked it up almost as an afterthought. It was just lyingthere on a dais, on sale for something like $15. I've no idea howlong it will last, but it's already paid for itself.

I don't know whether the double barrel model has the same motor asthe single. Judging from the photo on the website, it does - butthat's not a very good way to tell. Would it be overloaded with theuses you need: burnishing and polishing? Probably. But I'm sure thateven though I only half-fill my single barrel with shot and metal,I'm probably overloading it, too. But as I said before, I only useit to burnish for usually less than an hour. And again, mine hasalready paid for itself. I can always replace it for $20.

I have one of those Harbor Freight tumblers, and I love it. I usemine for burnishing with steel shot, as I do the prefinishing stepsby hand. It works beautifully for this, and I've tumbled as many as45 cicada-wing-sized pieces at a time. The lid is a very simplesystem and I've not had any trouble with it. The only quirk I'vefound is that I have to turn the machine on, then place the barrelon it; otherwise, it has trouble starting. Oh, and the rubber barrelis smelly for a while, but it gets better.

Ain't no way you can beat that price! I think I may have to get asecond one...